"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."
-Albert Einstein
I think it's just human nature to have to complicate things. But when you're in the clinic, that is no time to be an academic or philosopher.
I've always harped on clinical results. Working in the clinic is working in the trenches so to speak. This is where the rubber meets the road. Any flowery ideas of acupuncture or Chinese medicine, all the lovely beautiful concepts and theories, they mean nothing. Results are the only thing that matters - and the treatments behind them. While many think this disparages the "art", what it actually is, is putting the patient first. I will never apologize for putting the patient above ideology that doesn't deliver results, and only serves to comfort one's ego.
I've seen so many peeps brag about what they can do. What they know, how they can "control qi", or the degrees they have. Something is always missing in this bragging though - the patient.
Learning is fun, philosophy is extremely interesting, exploring new idea is important. But in the clinic it's all about keeping it simple.
Likewise, how are you explaining things to your patients? Are you lecturing on the differences between acupuncture and dry needling? Are you over explaining how your treatments are helping them? Have you noticed they glaze over after about 30 seconds?
It's best to keep working on your scripts and saying things very direct. Give the patients what they need - results. We excel in the clinic, delivering the tools we've learned. If we're talking, we're not working (unless you can do both at the same time).
And please, keep it simple!
@Exstoreman Difficult case
43 year old woman
CC: R drop foot progressively worsening
Systemic steroids helped the pain but not the drop foot
Has 6 lumbar vertebrae
Imaging:
July 2026: L-spine MRI - moderate/severe L4/L5 disc injury with severe neural stenosis
L6 fracture when 15 years old from diving injury (healed)
Foot drop:
Aug 2025: horseback riding trip (7 days long) no falls, just lots of riding; when travelling back home after her riding days, she notices her R foot stopped dorsiflexing - took 8 weeks to resolve
June 2026: foot drop came back when doing one sided lifting exercises
Neuro-surgeon said if not in severe pain, neurological recovery post surgery is 50/50 so don't risk surgery if not needed
What are your thoughts about treatment? With the severity of her disc issue, is electro-acupuncture going to help at all?
I see her sporadically so I haven’t been able to treat her appropriately. Stimulating the fibular nerve is incredibly uncomfortable on her, but we managed to do it the ...
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Patient: 45 year old female
CC: Right side ASIS pain.
Symptoms: 7/10 throbbing pain at its worst, sometimes gone. Location is exactly at ASIS. Does disturb sleep. No other hip or LB injuries. Came on suddenly about 10 months ago. Does not recall what doing when first noticed.
Mechanical Triggers: standing, pressing on it, walking sometimes. Getting out of car always aggravates.
Other: patient is very active. Pilates, strength training, can do all daily activities. Did have imaging done (I have not see report) and all findings negative. Tried massage and PT with dry needling - no positive changes.
Reports diastases rectus, youngest child 5 years old, scheduled to have "mommy make-over" surgery in October.
Lower Body Extore:
Failed: right side TFL and Glut Med.
Other: I had her do a figure 4 to check if Satorius was in play and there was restriction on right side but no pain.
Treatment:
PSOAS pecking right (I did not note she failed that but maybe did not chart)
PP: Rt TLF, Glut Med and...
